A well-balanced diet is more than smart for your body. It can also be smart for your outlook on life. No one says you can “cure” depression with food, but focusing on meals that deliver nature’s therapies can make a difference in how you feel.
Research has shown that a traditional Mediterranean diet, which incorporates many of the following tips, may help prevent depression. That diet includes plenty of fish, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and cereals; it contains little meat plus just moderate amounts of dairy and alcohol. It also has more monounsaturated fats and fewer saturated fats.
Add to your plate
Cultures that eat foods with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have lower depression levels. Add cold-water fish to your diet – salmon and mackerel for example – and you may see a significant antidepressant effect, even if you’re already on an antidepressant medication. Other sources: walnuts, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
B-vitamin deficiencies are common in people diagnosed with depression, and can reduce the efficacy of anti-depressant drugs. Kick up your intake of folic acid, a common B-vitamin, by eating more spinach, avocado and peas, and drinking more orange juice.
Eggs, meat and beans contain the amino acid tryptophan, which can help increase your body’s level of serotonin, a hormone that plays a significant role in fighting depression.
Scrape away
A stable blood sugar level is important to maintaining a stable mood. Avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates and sugars, which cause major glucose level swings. Also avoid alcohol, which can deplete serotonin levels.
Fill your plate with healthy foods that make you happy, and smile!